LFCS Essential Commands Practice Question
Which TWO commands can be used to display the current working directory?
⚠ Common exam trap
Linux Foundation often tests the distinction between commands that display the working directory and commands that merely locate or describe other things, tricking candidates into selecting `which pwd` because it contains the letters 'pwd'.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
pwd
The `pwd` command (B) is the standard POSIX command that prints the full pathname of the current working directory. The shell variable `$PWD` (D) is automatically set by the shell to the current working directory, so `echo $PWD` outputs the same path. Both are valid ways to display the current working directory.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
which pwd
Why it's wrong here
Shows path of pwd command.
- ✓
pwd
Why this is correct
Prints working directory.
- ✗
date
Why it's wrong here
Shows date and time.
- ✓
echo $PWD
Why this is correct
Prints PWD environment variable.
- ✗
whoami
Why it's wrong here
Shows current username.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This LFCS practice question is part of Courseiva's free Linux Foundation certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the LFCS exam.